CHARLOTTE, NC (Susan Stabley/Charlotte Business Journal) -
The Charlotte in 2012 host committee released forms to the Federal Election Commission listing 20 companies that provided goods and services during September's Democratic National Convention.
It's not clear yet when or if the host committee was able to raise the required $36.65 million for the DNC. The convention's local fundraisers must file FEC reports today, which are expected to answer longstanding questions over shortfalls. That includes a report for its New American City fund, which was used to accept corporate donations outside of strict rules set by the Democratic Party.
Two filings were posted on the FEC's website as of early Wednesday afternoon. Both are miscellaneous documents that are supplemental to a full financial-reporting document.
Nineteen companies are listed for providing goods and services to the Charlotte in 2012's main fund. They are American Natural Gas Alliance, Apple Inc., AT&T Inc., Cisco Systems, Inc., EMC Corporation/ RSA Division, EventLogic LLC, Facebook, Google Inc., Hewlett-Packard Co., Level 3 Communications Inc., LG Electronics USA Inc., Microsoft Corp., Motorola Solutions Inc., Panasonic Corp. of North America, PR Newswire Association LLC, Time Warner Cable Inc., TVEyes Inc., Twitter Inc. and Xerox Corp.
The Coca-Cola Co. is the only company listed in the New American City report for supplying soft drinks during the DNC, according to the filing.The two filings do not state whether the goods and services were in-kind contributions nor their monetary value.
Instead, the filings state a short description of the goods or services provided. For example, the American Natural Gas Alliance provided use of natural gas powered buses and fuel in August and September, the report states. Google provided a media lounge, digital media displays, AdWords credit and co-marketing and promotion advertising among other services.
In general, monetary contributions from any for-profit entity were prohibited for use in holding official convention activities. So were in-kind donations of goods or services from corporations that received TARP or other government bailout funds, unless that money has been repaid in full.
Donations from foundations created by or connected to a corporation were allowed only if approved by the Democratic National Convention Committee, and they were capped at $100,000.
The New American City fund covered hospitality events and expenses that promoted the city. That included welcome parties for delegates and the news media.
The Charlotte in 2012's main fund covered convention expenses that included temporary renovations of the DNC's main stage Time Warner Cable Arena and construction work at Bank of America Stadium, where President Obama was originally scheduled to deliver his acceptance speech. In the end, the stadium was not used because of weather concerns.
The Democratic National Convention Committee filed its third-quarter FEC report Monday detailing nearly $8 million spent during the three months surrounding DNC week in Charlotte. The DNC Committee listed $7.99 million in expenditures from June 1 to Sept. 30 in a 547-page report that included salaries, security, hospitality and transportation.
And entertainment: Foo Fighters played on Sept. 6 at the convention; organizers paid the band $147,450.09 for its performance.
Copyright 2012 Charlotte Business Journal. All rights reserved.
